QPR appoint Redknapp

Harry Redknapp has been appointed as the new manager of Queens Park Rangers on a two-and-a-half year contract.

Rangers, currently bottom of the Premier League, travel to Manchester United on Saturday afternoon where Redknapp will watch his new team from the stands.

Mark Bowen and Eddie Niedzwiecki will take charge of the team. A further announcement regarding Redknapp's backroom team will be made in due course but it is expected that Kevin Bond and Joe Jordan will join him at Loftus Road.

"I'm delighted to be back in the managerial hot-seat at QPR," Redknapp told the club's official website.

"When I spoke to the shareholders and they told me about their plans I knew this was too good an opportunity to turn down.

"There's no doubt there's a lot of ability in the squad, but for one reason or another things haven't gone as well as everyone expected since the start of the season.

"I can't wait to get to work and get the results necessary to kick-start our season."

Chairman Tony Fernandes added: "Harry was our number one target, the unanimous choice of the board and we're delighted we've been able to attract him to the club.

"He has a proven track record in the Premier League and has all the characteristics we were looking for to get us out of the current situation we find ourselves in.

"His man-management skills are second to none and we are confident he is the right man to lead us away from the bottom of the table.

"We believe we have a manager with significant experience at the highest level of football, who can come in and immediately help deliver our objectives."

Former Tottenham, West Ham and Portsmouth boss Redknapp has been out of work since leaving White Hart Lane in June.

He was strongly linked to replace Fabio Capello as England manager before the FA appointed Roy Hodgson. More recently Redknapp has reportedly been discussing becoming manager of Ukraine.

QPR have four points from 12 Premier League games this season and sit five points adrift of Reading in 17th place.